Lactose Synthesis

Lactose is a disaccharide that consists of a molecule of β-galactose attached by a β(1→4) linkage to glucose. Therefore, lactose is galactosyl β(1→4)-glucose.
Because lactose (milk sugar) is made by lactating (milk-producing) mammary glands, milk and other dairy products are the dietary sources of lactose. Lactose is synthesized in the Golgi by lactose synthase (UDP-galactose:glucose galactosyltransferase), which transfers galactose from UDP-galactose to glucose, releasing UDP (Fig. 1). This enzyme is composed of two proteins, A and B. Protein A is a β-D-galactosyltransferase and is found in a number of body tissues. In tissues other than the lactating mammary gland, this enzyme transfers galactose from UDP-galactose to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, forming the same β(1→4) linkage found in lactose, and producing N-acetyllactosamine, a component of the structurally important N-linked glycoproteins . In contrast, protein B is found only in lactating mammary glands. It is α-lactalbumin, and its synthesis is stimulated by the peptide hormone prolactin.
Protein B forms a complex with the enzyme, protein A, changing the specificity of that transferase (by decreasing the Km for glucose) so that lactose, rather than N-acetyllactosamine, is produced (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Lactose synthesis. UDP = uridine diphosphate.

مواضيع ذات صلة

آلية عمل المجموعة الأولى من الهرمونات

الهرمونات وآليات الاستتباب

تدرك (تقويض) الهرمونات وتعطيلها

نقل الهرمونات في البلازما

تغاير خزن الهرمونات وإفرازها

تخليق POMC ومعالجته

The Amino Acids

Absorption & Transport of Transition Metals

Physiologic Roles of The Essential Transition Metals

تخليق الأنجيوتنسين

تخلیق PTH

تخليق الأنسولين